The art of DIY

L’art du DIY - Quark

Do you feel like you want to decorate your interior or arrange your terrace? And, of course, you want to do everything yourself ? It has become one of the trendiest activities in France . : “Do It Yourself” decor . But perhaps the art of creating objects yourself has always been in vogue... If you only now want to transform old objects and materials lying around your home into a unique piece, here are some tips for master the art of DIY .

History of the DIY trend

The history of DIY art

DIY is an acronym that means “ Do It Yourself ” in English. In other words: do it yourself. The concept of “do it yourself” or “DIY” is the idea of ​​carrying out projects or activities yourself instead of having someone else do them . The movement originated in the early 1900s in North America. Initially, it was conveyed by magazines aimed at residents of rural areas. With the aim of helping them acquire and maintain technical and practical knowledge. They were real guides. Designed for knowing how to do everything yourself when living on a farm or in a small village.

The art of DIY today

DIY can include simple things like fixing something that's broken at home. But also more complex projects like building furniture or creating a decorative object. DIY is often seen as a way to save money, but it can also be seen as a way to achieve personal growth or to let off steam by doing something productive. This DIY art can also be a way to share knowledge and skills with other people interested in this type of activity.

Today, DIY has become a real way of life . With the rise of blogs and social networks. Articles, videos and tutorials on the subject are multiplying and concern different areas. Make your own cosmetics, create your own clothes, recycle objects. Or turn to responsible finance or try DIY.

DIY for everyone: the art of DIY

From the 1950s , journals multiplied, specialized and diversified . DIY magazines are still very popular. But numbers appear on sewing, painting, small decorative objects, etc. Some articles are even aimed directly at children.

In the storefronts, kit objects to build are flourishing: as a family, we build scale models of planes, trains or even model boats. Because obviously, fashions, even those based on recycling, can be lucrative ! Major brands such as Meccano are rushing to offer sets. No more need for DIY materials at home! Even novices can indulge in the joys of homemade. In 1977 , Lego even launched a specialized range: Lego Technic.

The art of DIY as a way of life the art of DIY

The philosophy developed in the early 1970s with the emergence of the hippie and then punk movements . The main idea is based on a rejection of the principle of mass consumption : we make our own so as not to have to buy. This return to ancestral know-how. And it goes hand in hand with the idea of ​​transmission and exchange of skills and knowledge.

A homemade activity

If the principle of homemade is ultimately everywhere, the Do It Yourself/DIY art movement truly offers a way of life . It was around 2007 that we saw its arrival in France in the form we know today. Today, the massive adoption of Do It Yourself marks a turning point in the history of consumption : we no longer throw away , we recover and transform ! With more or less material and technical skills but with good will and a great sense of recycling, we can create objects of varying size and, above all, unique !

DIY and the internet...

The democratization of the Internet has made transmission accessible to everyone and the know-how is easy to acquire. Many tutorial sites are emerging. On the web offering simple decorating ideas for novices (candleholders, trivets, bath mats, etc.). And for the more experienced, more complicated creations. For example, garden furniture, renovation of premises… All with the only watchwords: recycling and low prices! So, do you like it?

Enzo Mari, emblematic designer of the art of DIY movement the art of DIY

Enzo Mari and the art of DIY

Enzo Mari is an architect , designer , illustrator and theorist . This old bearded man, now 85 years old, is a bit like the guardian of design ethics. He is often seen as the “ critical conscience of design ”, and for good reason, his work as a designer is focused on design theory.

He challenges the consumer society by distributing manufacturing plans free of charge . Today it seems almost normal to us. Indeed, thanks to the internet we have access to lots of information as well as numerous resources for free. But we have to put things in context.

The art of DIY born from a social and economic movement

Enzo Mari is a utopian . He wants to change the world of distribution . Influenced by Marxist theories, his ambition and objective is to democratize the manufacturing of furniture. To do this, he tried to forge direct links between creators and consumers, without going through the distribution sector . He places the user at the center of the process , and then places himself at the margins of the design of this era by offering a series of anti-industrial objects .

Proposta per autoprogettazione” will not pass into the hands of manufacturers and distributors. He designed this series of furniture so that they are easily achievable. Thus, their manufacture requires only standard DIY materials such as wooden planks , a hammer, saw, nails and glue.

A landmark position in the history of design and the art of DIY

Proposal for self-development ART OF DIY

This is a first in the history of design. Enzo Mari is a designer who criticizes mass production and wishes to not be a part of it. Following this position, Enzo Mari was established as the father of self-production and this exhibition " Proposta per autoprogettazione" marks the beginning of this movement. Behind this movement there are also political and philosophical issues . DIY is a practice that questions the question of “doing”, but also of “empowerment . The art of DIY raises fundamental questions about our economic and social model, our vision of work, but also our relationship to objects.

The art of DIY, an ecological movement art

DIY

The art of DIY and ecology

In addition to the DIY art trend, it is now easy to adopt daily ecological habits. Several movements have emerged in recent years, often with the aim of consuming less, but better.

This is the case with minimalism, which consists of reducing your consumption of objects of all kinds and decluttering your house or apartment to concentrate on the essentials. More and more households are also adopting a “ zero waste ” routine. A trend which consists of buying in bulk, to drastically reduce your plastic consumption. And to emphasize recycling and thus limit the frequency of its trash cans.

The art of DIY even in fashion

For their part, fashion enthusiasts will not fail to limit their purchases of new clothes to concentrate on second-hand items . A real gesture for the planet when we know that textiles are ranked fifth among the industries generating the most greenhouse gas emissions, third for water consumption and second for land use, according to the ' Ademe (environmental agency).

An activity accessible to all

The art of DIY allows you to unleash your creativity by making clothes and accessories for babies. But also small furniture, garden elements and decorative objects. Knitting, sewing and embroidery have once again become trendy occupations. Even though they were reserved for our grandmothers, a few years ago. We will have understood, the time has come for recovery . We also talk about upcycling , meaning recycling from above, in other words, recycling of waste.

The art of DIY at Quark

The art of DIY at Quark

At Quark we also offer DIY activities and in particular this screen printing kit. It is a kit that allows you to make dinosaurs using the principle of screen printing. Not bad is not it ? So it's up to you now ;) You too are ready to take up the art of DIY!

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